Maignan Clanger Hands Champions League gift to fired Feyenoord

A disastrous mistake from AC Milan’s French goalkeeper Mike Maignan handed troubled Dutch side Feyenoord a precious 1-0 benefit after the first stage of Champions League playoffs on Wednesday.

The surprise gain was a welcome Tonic for Feyenoord, who entered the match in disarray after Axing Manager Brian Proge less than 48 hours before the game.

“These evenings are the reason we do this,” said a jubilant Feyenoord captain Quinten Tree.

“De Kuip were on it again. We were on it. Next week,” he said.

By running Rotterdam rain, the crowd had hardly settled from the fierce Singalong before the match as the hosts took the lead thanks to Maignan’s unexplained howl.

With only three minutes on the clock cut Feyenoord’s Brazilian wings Igor Paixao in from the left and fired a speculative shot along the soft square.

The strike should never even have worried the French international keeper, but he somehow failed to collect it clean, and it ricocheted his body into the upper corner.

The Dutch side was bent by a feverish atmosphere inside De Kuip, and was better off the opening exchange, which won most of 50-50 balls and adapted well to the slow surface.

Seven-time European masters AC Milan, in contrast, were slurry and could not match the degree of work on the website.

Paixao caused chaos with scything running down the leftist and then a curling look from the bar just before the break, with Maignan well beaten.

Defensively solid and Paixao especially dangerous in attack, the unannounced hosts were good value for their 1-0 half-time line, which showed temporary boss Pascal Bosschaart lots of heart and commitment.

– ‘We did it again’ –

The second half lacked clear chances until the 71st minute, when the excellent Paixao lapsed England’s Kyle Walker and almost scored with a lob from the half -way line.

Milan had one of their first meaningful shots on target when replacement Samuel Chukwueze tried their luck from a distance, but could only find Feyenoord -Keper Timon Wellenreuther.

One goal probably turned out at night that Feyenoord could take the upper hand back to Milan, who will have to show far more penetration in the return leg of San Siro on February 18.

The match was a disappointing return for AC Milan’s new striker Santiago Gimenez, who had only left De Kuip two weeks earlier after two and a half years and 65 goals in 105 appearances.

Visitors lacked bites in front in general and Gimenez was largely anonymous until he was replaced in 82 minutes and received a hot ovation from the Feyenoord fans.

AC Milan’s Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders said his side “lack of aggression” in that cakes of the Kuip.

“Both in attack and defense that was not enough, and then you simply come up short,” he said.

“We need to be much more consistent.”

Feyenoord hopes a win over AC Milan could report the start of something special.

In the only former European meeting between the two, the Rotterdam club took the Italian giants into their race to their only European cup title, in 1969-1970.

Awaiting the winner will be a clash with either Inter Milan or Arsenal.

“There is a reason why we are where we are now because we have played many good matches in the Champions League,” Timber said.

“And we did it again tonight.”

RIC/NO